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Module

BMD2011 : Cell Signalling in Health and Disease (Inactive)

  • Inactive for Year: 2025/26
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Alessio Iannetti
  • Co-Module Leader: Professor Neil Perkins
  • Lecturer: Professor Jonathan Higgins, Dr Josana Rodriguez Sanchez, Dr Brian Ortmann, Dr Christina Elliott, Dr Jack Leslie
  • Owning School: Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Scien
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

The aim of this module is to develop a thorough knowledge of how cell signalling pathways work physiologically and how dysfunction of selected signalling pathways can result in diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration, diabetes.

The students will also gain a greater understanding of post-translational modification events and how molecular events lead to normal tissue function or disease development.

Within this module students will also develop competence in using databases to research protein to protein interaction and roles of signalling pathways in diseases.

Outline Of Syllabus

Topics covered by this module will include:


Molecular neurodegeneration

Neuroinflammation

Post-translational modifications

Metabolic signalling pathways

NF-kB, p53, HIF, NRF2 signalling pathways and cross-talks

Mechanisms of stress inducible transcription factors responses

Signalling of cell cycle and asymmetric division

Databases for cell signalling pathway analysis

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture201:0020:00Lectures
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical13:003:00Lab-based molecular practical demonstrating post-translational modifications
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching31:003:00Seminars. One seminar aided to poster preparation.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops11:301:30Practice using String database
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study1172:30172:30Independent study
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures will be used to provide new detailed information and illustrate the significance of normal and abnormal mechanisms using examples of common diseases (LO K1-4).


Case studies will be used in seminars to enable students to discuss in small groups and gain a deeper understanding of the lecture material (LO K4-S3).


A laboratory-based practical will enhance the students’ competence in the laboratory and will lead to the generation of data that will be used for subsequent assessment (LO S2-S3).


Students will develop their ability to research signalling pathways in the context of diseases (LO S1). A workshop will be delivered to guide students in the use of the STRING database.


Independent study will allow students to extend their knowledge and prepare for assessments through consolidation of module content, reading of books, journal articles and other recommended references.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Oral Presentation2M40Poster group presentation linked to the practical laboratory work (1,000 equivalent words)
Report2M60Report of research carried on using the STRING database (2,000 words)
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Poster presentation: Students will construct and present an academic poster to present the methodologies, data analysis and findings of the practical class.


Database report: Students will produce a written report (2,000 words max.) of their research conducted using the STRING database to identify how assigned proteins are involved in signalling pathways, formulating a research hypothesis to assess their potential roles in disease.

Reading Lists

Timetable